optional
Americanadjective
-
left to one's choice; not required or mandatory.
Formal dress is optional.
- Synonyms:
- voluntary, elective, discretional
-
leaving something to choice.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of optional
Explanation
If you can choose whether or not to do something, it is optional. Extra credit is always optional; death and taxes are not. When you buy a new car, you can decide which options or choices, you would like. Things like a DVD player mounted in the ceiling are optional, you don't need them for the car to work, and it's up to you if you want to pay more for them. The opposite of optional is mandatory. If you're in high school, going to bed at 8:00 is optional, for your little sister in elementary school, it's mandatory.
Vocabulary lists containing optional
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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New Kid
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Flag football is now played by 20 million people in more than 100 countries and the rapid growth of the women's game was key to it becoming one of five optional sports for LA28.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Sole-Smith notes that the demands of caregiving can make basic needs feel almost optional.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
It leaves instruction to districts and teachers, with optional discussion prompts for 10th grade world history and senior-year American democracy classes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
There are coffee drinks, mocktails, optional infusions, DJs on the weekends and a back patio where friends gather to play cards, talk and linger.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Barrettes are optional, but she should definitely bring some with her.
From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
